Hot New Tables September 2012

New Restaurants in Singapore

Wednesday, 29 Aug 2012

Everyone’s favourite feature is back for another month of gastronomic delights, and nope – there’s no slowing down in the culinary scene here.

Click through the slideshow for the latest restaurant offerings all around the island (including a neat one in the East and another at the offbeat Tiong Bahru).

And for the lazy, here’s your cheat sheet at a glance:
Mad Nest
inITALY Bar Ristorante
Nam Nam Noodle Bar
IKYU
Tamarind Hill
Platters Bistro & Wine Bar
Oyster Bar & Grill wharf
The Royal Mail
81 Duxton
Uma Uma Ramen

Looking for more hot new tables? Check out our picks for March, June, July, and August.

Mad Nest
If you can’t decide what you want to eat (or if you’re in the mood for French and everyone else insists on Indian), head to Mad Nest. This new Eastie offers an eclectic array of cuisine including Japanese, North Indian, Italian-Asian, tapas and brunch.

These guys also celebrate emerging artists so be sure to check out the ever-changing display of art works hanging on the walls. Plus, they also have a fully stocked bar and drinks menu that includes signature cocktails created for each type of cuisine. Major brownie points: we love their interiors. And let’s hear it for their website – gorgeous.

Mad Nest, 378/380 East Coast Road, Singapore 428986, p. 6348 6861, Mon-Thu 4pm-1am, Fri 4pm-2am, Sat 11am-2am, Sun 11am-1am

inITALY Bar Ristorante
Hands up, fans of award-winning Forlino Restaurant. For those who appreciate quality Italian cooking and outstanding value, you’ll want to make a reservation at inITALY – we foresee full houses in their future.

Helmed by Chef Mario Caramella, formerly Chef Patron at Forlino, inITALY’s menu is a showcase of the classic ‘cucina Italiana’ or ‘Italian kitchen’ – homemade breads and pasta, regional cheese such as Grana Logdigiano, Stracciatella, Fontina and Taleggio, as well as premium antipasti topped off with fresh herbs harvested from Chef Mario’s own potted herb plants.

inITALY Bar Ristorante, 38 Craig Road, Singapore 089676, p. 6423 0918, Mon-Sat 12-230pm & 6-1030pm

Nam Nam Noodle Bar
Well the Les Amis group has definitely been busy. First Caveau Wines & Bar, now Nam Nam Noodle Bar.

This fast Vietnamese food joint is an offshoot of Annam Vietnamese Restaurant, and has two outlets slated to open: the first at Raffles City mid-September; the second at Wheelock in October. The menu includes affordable Pho and Banh Mi – we’re talking lunch sets of spring rolls, noodles, and a drink for only $9.90 nett.

And while it may not be a fancy restaurant, all the chefs have been personally trained by Chef Nam, the ownder and director of Annam Vietnamese Restaurant. We can’t wait.

Nam Nam Noodle Bar, B1-46 Raffles City Shopping Centre, Singapore 179103

IKYU
Is Tiong Bahru really where it’s at? IKYU seems to think so.

Helmed by Executive Chef Takuma Seki (formerly the chef-de Cuisine of Hide Yamamoto at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands), the menu here is East-meets-West with freshly imported ingredients at the main highlight. The modern Japanese food includes sashimi, salads, hearty meats, nigiris, and rolls.

Some suggested must-tries: lightly breaded Panko Hiroshima Oysters served with tangy tartar sauce; Kagoshima Wagyu Beef Sirlion served with homemade ponzu sauce of yuzu, soy sauce, bonito, & shiitake mushrooms, and if you like your California Roll, be sure to order IKYU’s Premium California roll with fresh crab leg meat, avocado, and cucumber.

They also serve a 5-course set lunch ranging from $15++ to #35++.

IKYU, 5 Yong Siak Street, Singapore 168643, p. 6223 9003, Tue-Sun 1130am-3pm & 6-1030pm

Tamarind Hill
First of all, let us just say how stunning this place is. It’s a gorgeous black and white perched atop the forested Labrador Nature Reserve with a rustic-luxe Asian flair. The restaurant serves both traditional and contemporary Thai food, and also has an iconic colonial-style long bar at the front house (pictured above).

Choose to dine indoors or outside (but beware the mozzies), and enjoy the delicate execution of Thai food done right: the perfect balance of sweet, savoury, and a good dash of heat.

Psst, brides-to-be, take heed! This is one place that you can throw an elegant affair at.

Tamarind Hill, 30 Labrador Villa Road, Labrador Nature Reserve, Singapore 119189, p. 6278 6364, daily 12-3pm, 630-1030pm

Platters Bistro & Wine Bar
We’ll be honest. If you’re the kind of diner who orders the same dish each time, Platters won’t be your go-to restaurant. But if you appreciate variety and are a bit of a global nomad, prepare to get really excited about this new dining concept.

Not only does Platters advocate social dining by serving dishes on platters (but of course), they also have a menu change every four months designed by a new guest chef, who showcases his/her cuisine on the wooden boards. They’re also really big on wine here – just ask trained winemaker and enologist, Florian Raymond, who has put together a dynamic wine list is full of ‘discoveries’ from artisanal producers from the Old World.

From now till October, Guest Chef Yen Koh, who was Team Captain of the 2010 Singapore National Culinary Team (they were ranked first in the world), has put together a menu showcasing award-winning techniques and ideas from his travels around Asia.

Platters Bistro & Wine Bar, 42 Club St, Singapore 046920, p. 6223 8048, Mon-Sat 12-3pm & 5pm-12midnight

Oyster Bar & Grill wharf
So it’s not exactly the same as having oysters and booze by the seaside, but doing the same along Robertson Quay isn’t half bad at all. With freshly shucked oysters, more than 100 different types of wine and mojito, and substantial fare like beef steak, grilled pork, and spinach and blue cheese omelettes, wharf is great for a breezy after-work wind-down sesh.

Oyster Bar & Grill wharf, 60 Robertson Quay, #01-01 Quayside, Singapore 238252, p. 6235 2466, 5pm-2am daily

The Royal Mail
Homesick Brits, there’s a new cure in town. Housed in the historical and culturally-rich Ascott Raffles Place, The Royal Mail Restaurant & Bar is a 60-seater establishment serves modern interpretations of Classic British Cuisine featuring roasts and prime ribs. And yes, you’ll have no shortage of Yorkshire Pudding, creamed corn, and buttered peas. There’s also an extensive drinks menu for those in the CBD who just want a stiff drink.

The Royal Mail Restaurant & Bar, Ascott Raffles Place, 2 Finlayson Green, Singapore 049247, p. 6509 3589, Mon-Fri 12-3pm & 630-11pm, Sat 630-11pm

81 Duxton
The brainchild of Japanese entrepreneur, Hisato Hamada, 81 Duxton is not your average Japanese restaurant.

The focus of this place is on the food and where it comes from, so 81 Duxton works very closely with artisanal farmers, fishers, and butchers from both Singapore and Japan to ensure the highest quality of ingredients.

Interestingly enough, the restaurant is also divided into three dining section – indoor fine-dining , an outdoor tapas area, and a breakfast buffet corner. And while the culinary team is largely Japanese, the menu here is more an amalgamation of options in an East-meets-West menu, all executed with Japanese finesse, of course.

81 Duxton, 83 Duxton Road, Singapore 089540, p. 6238 5681, Mon-Sat 7am-11pm, Sun 11am-3pm

Uma Uma Ramen
This city’s obsession over ramen is out of control! Not that we’re complaining.

Famed Japanese joint, Uma Uma Ramen, has hit our shores with its authentic Hakata-style noodles served in a robust tonkotsu stock – all part of a secret family recipe, of course. They don’t take reservations, so we headed down ourselves to check out the hype.

The menu is limited to a regular Uma Uma Ramen ($14, comes with chasiu, spring onion, black fungus, and spicy miso) and a Spicy Chasium Ramen ($16 with spicy marinade, chasiu, chilli oil, leeks, and spring onions). We were – surprisingly – not bowled over by the noodles, but we did enjoy the Chicken Karaage ($8).

While we it’s worth trying, we don’t reckon it’s worth the wait (since they don’t take reservations), so make sure to head down as early to opening hours as possible.

Uma Uma Ramen, 583 Orchard Road, Forum the Shopping Mall, #01-41/42/43, Singapore 238884, p. 6235 0855, Mon-Sat 1130am-3pm & 630-10pm, Sun 1130am-whenever they sell out